West Rand police make their presence felt during recent Operation Shanela
Fines were issued, stolen generators and water pumps recovered as well as multiple arrests made during a successful Operation Shanela held by police on the West Rand.
Police officers from different parts of the West Rand embarked on Operation Shanela to clamp down on criminal activities in Randfontein.
This was on November 9 and the operation was led by West Rand District Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana, who was supported by his station commanders and other government entities including Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM).
The areas targeted were Greenhills, Homelake, Robinpark, Helikon Park, Culemborg Park, Afri Village, Bongweni, Finsbury, Kocksoord, Rikasrus, Tenacres, Aureus as well as plots and farms in Randridge, Loumaria, Brandvlei, Wheatlands, Pelsvale, Mohlakeng and Hillside.
West Rand District Police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya said about 63 people were arrested during the operation.
“The breakdown of the arrests made by the crime prevention and visible policing teams [Vispol] includes five for drug-related offenses, seven for illegal mining another 19 undocumented persons. The other 32 arrests were carried out by detectives which included one for murder, two for armed robbery, one for common robbery, nine for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two for common assault, two for housebreaking and theft, one for theft out of a motor vehicle, one for theft from a motor vehicle, two for possession of drugs, one for possession of stolen property, three for theft, two for contravention of protection orders, one for contempt of court, one for culpable homicide as well as one for negligent loss of firearm,” said Sibiya.
He added that a roadblock was also held at the R14 Brandvlei crossing while there was a massive police presence along the R28, N12 and P111 roads known as hijacking hotspots. The ‘flower’ and R559 intersections as well as the M13 road towards Azaadville were also patrolled.
During this time, 26 fines were issued during the operation of which 24 were for road traffic offenses to the value of R16 365. Vispol groups issued a fine of R1 500 and another for the contravention of the Pharmaceutical Act.
The operation also led to the confiscation of a toy gun, eight alleged suspected stolen generators and two water pumps, 79 various illicit and counterfeit goods, 21 gold-bearing materials, mandrax tablets and crystal meth.
All arrested suspects will appear in the Randfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.
